Highly regarded Dundeel filly wins on debut
Dundeel himself was a superlative Classic & WFA performer and is now, as Ciaron Maher says, "a sire to look out for!" (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)
A strong debut victory by The Closer at Geelong on Sunday gave first season sire Dundeel his fifth winner and another bright prospect for Spring 3YO racing.
In a performance reminsicent of her sire’s storming debut win at Ellerslie in New Zealand six years ago, The Closer circled the field around the turn and proved too strong for Wild Flyer and the favourite Angel in the 1340-metre contest for 2YO fillies.
Watch The Closer win on debut at Geelong.
Watch Dundeel’s debut win at Ellerslie, April 2012
David Eustace, assistant to trainer Ciaron Maher, said The Closer is highly regarded by the stable.
“She’s got a big action and she’s very athletic, but she still has plenty of furnishing to do so we are hopeful she will get over a bit of ground and up in class.”
The Closer is the first winner out of Miss Evasive (by Elusive Quality), herself a city-winning daughter of dual Classic winner Magical Miss. The filly was a $70,000 purchase for Ciaron Maher and part-owner W. Ballantine from the draft of her breeder Gilgai Farm at the 2017 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.
Miss Evasive has since delivered two colts by Dundeel’s barn-mate Olympic Glory, the first of which was bought by trainer Paul Perry from this year’s Inglis Premier Sale for $140,000.
Dundeel’s other first-crop 2YO winners are Group 3 winner Irukandji (trained by Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes), Sydney winner Dealmaker (with Chris Waller), Cutadeel (prepared in New Zealand by Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman) and Atyaab (trained by Mike de Kock in South Africa).
Confidence in Dundeel’s future as a stallion has driven lively bidding for his second-crop yearlings, sold in 2018 for up to $500,000 (Inglis Easter), $280,000 (Magic Millions), $NZ270,000 (NZ Premier), $150,000 (Inglis Classic) and $180,000 (Inglis Melbourne Premier).
